The All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party disowned petitions filed in their names at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. Both parties denied authorising any challenge to the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15 election.
The tribunal displayed two petitions on its notice board in Osogbo on Monday. The first, marked EPT/OS/GOV/01/2026, listed Bola Oyebamiji, the APC governorship candidate, and the party as petitioners. The second, marked EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, named the Peoples Democratic Party as petitioner.
Adekunle Adegoke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and leader of the APC legal team, stated that neither the party nor its candidate authorised the filing. He said the team had advised against approaching the tribunal after the election.
“I want to be on record that the APC legal team has denounced the bundle of papers filed by some individuals masquerading as APC lawyers. It was not authorised by APC as a party or its candidate,” Adegoke said.
He added that Oyebamiji had congratulated Adeleke without pressure. The party later moved to withdraw the petition formally.
Jungudo Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the party neither filed nor instructed anyone to file a petition against Adeleke. He noted that only the National Legal Adviser could initiate legal proceedings on behalf of the party under its constitution.
Mohammed stated that the purported petition lacked the blessing, approval or authority of the National Legal Adviser. The party urged the tribunal and relevant authorities to note its complete disassociation from the suit and said it was taking steps to withdraw its name.
Adebayo Adedamola, the PDP governorship candidate in the election, also denied authorising any petition in his name.
